Morrison R. Waite - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Morrison Remick Waite was born November 27, 1816 in Lyme, Connecticut. His father was a lawyer and judge, and would later serve as justice on the Supreme Court of Connecticut. He graduated from Yale in 1837. He moved to Maumee, Ohio the next year, and was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1839. By 1841 his firm had the highest earnings in Lucas County. In 1844, Waite argued his first case before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Waite served one term as mayor of Maumee in the 1840s, and served in the Ohio General Assembly from 1849-1850. He moved to Toledo in 1850, and was elected to Toledo City Council in 1851. He unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 1862.

In 1871, President Grant appoint Waite as one of the three councils representing the United States before an international arbitration board regarding the Confederate warship CSS Alabama. The US argued that because the Alabama was restocked and refitted during the Civil war in British Caribbean ports, the UK violated the Neutrality Act. The arguments were successful, and the US was awarded over $15 million.

As a result of the Alabama claim, Waite was selected to represent Lucas County at the Ohio state constitutional convention. He was elected president of the convention once he arrived. He would serve one year at this post.

In 1873, Chief Justice Salmon Chase died. President Grant had 2 of his nominees rejected, and 4 others turned down the nomination. Waite was relatively unknown nationwide, had credit for being part of the Alabama claims legal team, had few political enemies, and had a reputation for honesty. He was unanimously approved by the Senate on January 22, 1874, and was sworn in as Chief Justice the next day.

During Waite's 14 years as Chief Justice, the Supreme Court handled more than 3400 cases. Waite himself wrote the opinion on about 1/3 of them. He was an advocate of judicial restraint, and believed people acting through their state legislatures knew their best interests. This also acted as a restraint on the growth of the Federal Government's powers.

Waite was approached in 1876 by the Republicans to run for President. Waite refused, saying he didn't want set a precedent of using the Chief Justice post as a stepping stone for the Presidency.

Waite died of pneumonia in Washington, DC on March 23, 1888.

Description: Morrison Waite was the 7th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He served from 1874-1888. Date of birth: 11/29/1816 Date of death: 03/23/1888 Area of notoriety: Politics Marker Type: Monument Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: May-October 8 am-6 pm; November-April 8 am-5 pm Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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